Mile Marker: October, 2017

By Fred Nabkey

Congratulations to Charles Swank of Butler, Ohio, on being presented with a 2017 Street Glide at the Military Appreciation Day at Sturgis. Harley-Davidson and the Wounded Warrior Project teamed up to present him with the motorcycle through “Mission: Thank You.” After visiting all 702 dealerships Adam Sandoval started Mission: Thank You to give away eight motorcycles to vets across the U.S.A. Charles was nominated by his wife Alaina, and was chosen by a panel of H-D and Wounded Warrior Project representatives. Four motorcycles have been given away, with the last one being in New York City on Veterans Day… The 13th annual Ride for Autism at Biker Bob’s Harley-Davidson in Taylor, Michigan, raises money to host events throughout the year for families of autistic children and adults. Since the ride started it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Rachel Adams, the charity’s ambassador, said the money goes to the “now,” for entertainment and parties, not for the research. They put on Easter, Christmas and Apples for Autism in the fall at an apple orchard to help the families enjoy a safe haven as well as a good time… Members of Buckeye H.O.G. chapter #2951 in Dayton, Ohio, rode to Morrison Elementary School for the 27th year in a row delivering back-to-school supplies to 150 first graders. Monies were collected from Christmas gift wrapping at the dealership and used to shop for items from the school’s supplies list. Money left over will be used throughout the year for other expenses… Thanks to Rick Stapleton in the parts department at Richmond Center Harley-Davidson in Richmond, Indiana, for coming up with an original, brand new, in-the-box front hub cap for my 1976 Electra Glide. I put a crack in mine, and didn’t think I would ever find a new one. It took him a while but he came up with it. Thanks, Rick; it is beautiful… They call themselves the Miracle Riders. Scott Ressmeyer and 17 other motorcycle riders returned home on August 11 after a 10,000-mile trip over 21 days to raise money for Our House at Carpenters’s Way Ranch and Arabella Home for Girls. The trip went west and north to Coldfoot, Alaska, then to the Arctic Circle. They have taken six trips since 2009 when they visited 48 states for Ressmeyers’s Big 5-0, with a goal to raise over $1 million which they have completed. This year’s ride raised $135,688 to help support the area children, ages 6 to 17, who have been removed from their homes for various reasons… Bertilla Mullenbach can now add Motorcycle Mama to her bucket list. The Rochester, Minnesota, resident who lives at Madonna Towers Senior Community is 103 years old. Her dentist Dr. Fred Carlson would tell her stories of his travels on his Harley-Davidson and asked her if she wanted to go for a ride, and she never forgot. Her next visit she asked when she was going to get her ride. Dr. Carlson showed up at the home, put her in a leather jacket, black biker helmet and shades, and off they went. Her first ever motorcycle ride lasted about a half hour. The doc said he could hear her saying, “I’m loving it. I’m loving it.” She also said, “I just forgot my age entirely; we couldn’t have had a more perfect morning.” That’s it for this month; it’s all about you, the Midwest biker. Ride fast, but ride safe.